FOR THE RECORD

FOR THE RECORD

Detectives Endowment Association President Michael Palladino had the honor of being highlighted in a multiple-choice quiz in America's favorite magazine that still puts an umlaut over the word cooperation.

The first question in the 2008 presidential campaign-themed "Shouts and Murmurs" section of last week's New Yorker was, "Who is Michael Palladino?"

The high-society journal, which doesn't cover American labor unions with too much vigor, gave the correct answer as "The New York City Police Detective who scoffed at Rudolph Giuliani's claim to have been 'at Ground Zero as often as, if not more than, most of the workers."

Among the other possible choices to throw off the reader was, "One of two young men who interrupted a speech by Hillary Clinton by yelling, 'Iron my shirt! Iron my shirt!"

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While New York's racing industry and its patrons were gratified and relieved that an agreement was reached last week to avoid a shutdown of its thoroughbred tracks and extend by 25 years the operating franchise of the New York Racing Association, Mayor Bloomberg wasn't among those rejoicing.

Hizzoner, who has made clear in recent weeks his disdain for gambling that doesn't involve the stock market (and preferably, aided by a Bloomberg Box) issued a statement that only acknowledged the deal reached in Albany to note "the state's failure to address OTB in [the] NYRA compromise."

He said that state legislators and Governor Spitzer "missed an opportunity to link on- and off-track betting operations," though he acknowledged that he received commitments that the issue would be addressed before the Legislature adjourns in June.

The city Off-Track Betting Corporation will proceed with a vote on a closing plan Feb. 19, the Mayor said. It has previously been disclosed that under the plan, layoff notices would be issued in early spring and most operations would cease by mid-June.

"As I've said repeatedly," his statement harrumphed, "the city will not subsidize OTB operations."

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The Municipal Labor Committee last week requested a meeting with the Mayor's Office of Labor Relations to discuss its "concerns" over the proposal to convert HIP and GHI to a single for-profit entity called Emblem Health.

Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler Jan. 29 cautioned that allowing the conversion without imposing strict conditions could "inflict irrevocable harm" on the city, which would be forced to cover the roughly $400 million in additional health-care costs every year.

While the city is suing to try to head off the merger, it is simultaneously insisting that if it goes through, it is entitled to a significant share of the proceeds.

United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, who as chair of the MLC leads the unions in bargaining on health benefits, is worried about changes in the market and what ramifications the merger would have in terms of health benefits for city workers.

Ms. Weingarten has pointed to the significant role city workers have played in creating the large health-care providers, arguing that the municipal unions should receive a share of the generated money.

"Both New York City and its unions must share in any proceeds and certain conditions need to be established to ensure the stability of the health benefits to our members," her letter stated.

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Transport Workers Union Local 100 will hold a Black History Celebration at its Upper West Side headquarters Feb. 23.

The union will recognize the winners of its 2005 strike photo essay contest, a Local 100 flyer said. Attending the event will be State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of slain civil rights leader Malcolm X.

The event will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at 80 West End Ave. Members who wish to attend should call 212-873-6000, extension 2204.

The union will be providing child-care services.